R-III making summer purchases

Thursday

Jul 11, 2013 at 11:34 AMJul 11, 2013 at 11:35 AM

Board approved about $75K in tables, carpet and Food Service equipment as school’s start nears

The Kirksville School Board and Gov. Jay Nixon are expected to talk tax cuts in early August after the Board and northeast Missouri state representative took center stage in a state debate over a tax cut measure and pre-emptive withholdings.

Superintendent Patrick Williams said the district is coordinating with the governor’s office with a possible meeting date in early August after the Board had discussed the possible impacts of a tax reform measure at its last meeting.

“We’re watching closely what happens in Jefferson City,” Williams said Wednesday during the Board meeting. “We can absorb one withholding with our current reserves, but this could be just one withholding from several throughout the year.”

The district is currently looking at losing out on about $125,000 in state aid due to pre-emptive budget cuts ordered by Nixon in response to a possible veto override of House Bill 253, which aims to restructure tax rates and decrease income tax in Missouri.

Northeast Missouri Rep. Nate Walker was scheduled to speak to the Board but had to cancel due to a commitment with a state House committee on Medicaid.

He had previously voted in favor of HB253 and spoke in favor of a veto override one day before Nixon announced his prospective budget cuts, which also included an about 4 percent cut to higher education and the elimination of $4 million for a Sullivan County lake project championed by Walker.

After those cuts were announced, Walker shifted his position and, while maintaining that he would have an open mind until a possible veto session in September, said he be against a possible veto override due to Nixon’s actions.

“This is dangerous politics to be playing with kids,” Williams said. “So, stay tuned.”

The district is also undergoing multiple construction and maintenance projects and the Board approved the expenditure of about $74,000 in equipment and carpet purchases over the summer.

The expenditures include about $6,200 for 10 heavy-duty aluminum picnic tables from Heartland Auto Sales of Kirksville; $38,434 for 1,365 square yards of carpet tiles for the middle, primary and high schools. Carpeting will be replaced over the summer in both offices and classrooms.

The district will also be purchasing an about $10,000 steamer and prep stand for Food Services as well as a range for $5,580.

The Board also approved the purchase of about $56,500 in house-making materials from Jepson Lumber for the Construction Trades class and about $10,300 from Image Building Products Company for six lunch tables for Ray Miller.

The district is also mid-way through its roof replacement over portions of the high school, with work expected to be completed by mid-August.